It is one of the most cataclysmic events of our nation's history, but it went completely un-noticed by one of our Country's leading state publically supported institutions of higher learning, Purdue University.  System wide this "academic" institution of "higher" learning is responsible for 70,000 students. 

I am sure that this was more the norm nation wide than the exception.  I wonder if someone took a survey would they discover that the disgraced Ward Churchill had more speaking engagements on America's campuses during the week of 9/11 than families of the victims.

The best that I can tell, no official or University organized effort was made to remember the events of September 11, 2001.  There was certainly nothing done at the Calumet campus.  The flags were flown at half-mast but without any explanation of why.  There were no ceremonies, no speeches, no discussion, no prayers for the victims, absolutely nothing.
 

While the State of Indiana's Purdue University was actively ignoring 9/11, real Hoosiers, like the high school students in Chesterton who placed 2,977 American flags in front of their school to memorialize the victims, were saying we remember.  In NWI, Valparaiso, Schererville, Indiana University Northwest, and others had ceremonies honoring the fallen and the brave of 9/11.  Even the Walgreens in Munster, Indiana, put an American flag for each victim in a park next to its store.  Guess who is paying the bills and from whom Purdue University is going to go and ask for more money to run its anti-American creed?

Nope. Nothing at all from the new President or the University at large.  The only "event" that happened was an e-mail sent to everyone by an individual faculty member on his own initiative.  This is the email with my response to all the faculty and staff: Remembering_9_11.mht

This was the sum total of all the "memorializing" of the victims of September 11, 2001 by Purdue University.  I am surprised that the University administration did not quote some rule saying that this was an "inappropriate" use of the University's email system.

Maybe it just was not viewed as "politically correct" to remember 9/11 and to honor its victims, so Purdue just didn't bother.   One needs only recall that Purdue University prides itself on having the highest enrollment of foreign students of any public university.  I am sure they were more concerned about "offending" someone than honoring the highest single loss of American civilians in a war in American history.

In its wisdom, the Indiana Legislature passed a law in the late 1970s that all University faculty in Indiana, whether they are citizens or not, must sign a statement of allegiance to the United States and Indiana Constitution.  The law is clearly stated in: Indiana_code_20120_6_faculty_oath.htm. 

The oath is a basic affirmation of American citizenship:

"I solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will support the constitution of the United States of America, the constitution of Indiana and the laws of the United States and of Indiana, and will, by precept and example, promote respect for the flag and the institutions of the United States and of Indiana, reverence for law and order and undivided allegiance to the government of the United States."

An inquiry by another faculty member, revealed that contrary to Indiana law there are no such records kept by the President of the University.  Not surprisingly, Purdue University, as other public institutions in America, believe they are above the law because of their intellectual supriority.  Taxpayers should just be happy to send money and not complain.

Everyone should be honored to agree to this.  Maybe if Indiana enforced its own laws and required every faculty member and administrator to sign this oath, Purdue would have had individuals with enough pride, courage, and respect for the United States to have actually done something to commemorate the anniversary of 9/11.